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Celebrating a Decade of Service, and Beyond

Jul 22, 2009 - Tamyla Bynum could easily have been lost.

She was essentially parentless, looked after by her 19-year-old sister after their mother was incarcerated. She had few resources and fewer opportunities…at least that she was aware of. She could have easily accepted a future devoid of promise.

But Tamyla found the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope, an organization that serves at-risk teenagers in our community. The Glazer Family Foundation found the Academy, too, and as a result Tamyla's future was suddenly wide open.

Thanks to a grant from the Glazer Family Foundation, the Academy was able to take several of its students on a tour of colleges. For Tamyla, it was an eye-opening experience. More than that, really — it opened her mind to the endless opportunities her future could hold. A junior at Middleton High School at the time, she applied to a multitude of colleges, was accepted to most of them and eventually chose Florida A&M. This fall, Tamyla Bynum will become the first member of her family to attend college.

On Wednesday, Tamyla told her story to a packed auditorium at One Buccaneer Place, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers headquarters. The attendees had gathered to join Foundation Co-President Darcie Glazer Kassewitz in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Glazer Family Foundation.

"My siblings and I are trying our best to make it through life; my situation makes me want to continue in life," she said. "I plan to make something great out of myself that someone never knew could happen to a young lady who has been put in my situation. I want to make the best life for my siblings and me, to make our lives the “dream life” we’ve been asking for.

The Academy of Hope's college tour changed Tamyla's life. It was a successful program run by one of the many caring charitable organizations in the Tampa Bay area and throughout West Central Florida, and it represents one of the many ways that the Glazer Family Foundation has touched the lives of people in need over the past 10 years.

Those gathered at One Buc Place on Wednesday were there to commemorate the Foundation's 10 years of service and to celebrate the many lives that have been touched through its own efforts and its support of organizations such as the Tampa Bay Academy of Hope.

The real reason for recognizing this day, though, is the same reason the Tamyla Bynum story is so uplifting: As wonderful as Tamyla's opportunity is, and as meaningful as the Glazer Family Foundation has been to the community for the last 10 years, it is what comes next that will truly be worth celebrating. Tamyla will pursue her dreams, and the Glazer Family Foundation will launch itself headfirst into another decade of service to the citizens of its community.

Glazer Kassewitz said the Foundation has been honored to work with so many charitable organizations and the selfless people who keep them running. So many fruitful relationships have been established between the Foundation and the community since 1999.

"I can't believe how fast 10 years has gone…it's in the blink of an eye," said Glazer Kassewitz. "We're just thrilled to have worked with so many people and we're so excited for the next decade, to continue to do good work for Tampa and the surrounding area.

"We will continue to work with these charitable organizations; we have not lessened any of our efforts. Despite the economic downturn, we find it more important today to help than ever before. There is a greater need to help people today."

When the Glazer Family Foundation was established by the Buccaneers' owners in 1999, a long-term vision was identified to help positively impact the lives of those less fortunate. Ten years later, that vision continues to reshape the lives of thousands of children and families every day.

Wednesday's celebration of those first 10 years — and what is to come — brought together Glazer Kassewitz, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Glazer Children’s Museum President & CEO Al Najjar and representatives from more than 70 nonprofit groups that have been impacted by the Foundation. Wednesday’s celebration provided local leaders from throughout the area with an opportunity to network and share in their experiences of giving back.

“Our family is proud to have supported West Central Florida over the past ten years through the Glazer Family Foundation,” said Glazer Kassewitz. “We are committed to providing Florida’s youth and families with opportunities to build a stronger community. The true impact of the Foundation’s efforts can be seen through the smiling faces of the children and families that the Foundation has served since its inception.”

Since 1999, the Foundation has provided aid to nonprofit organizations that create programs to support positive social and economic development within the community. In its commitment to giving back, the Foundation has donated:

$5 million to the construction of the Glazer Children’s Museum, scheduled to open in 2010 in Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The museum began a 16-month construction and move-in process in March 2009 to celebrate the future three story, 53,000 square-foot facility that will serve as an early childhood educational resource for parents, caregivers, local schools and area child service providers. The multi-disciplinary exhibits, educational programs and events will provide a rich and ever-changing environment for playful learning and are estimated to bring in 200,000 visitors annually.

$150,000 to the University Community Hospital’s large-scale expansion project

More than 300,000 Buccaneers teddy bears and activity books to pediatric patients at seven area hospitals as part of the “Cheering You On!” program

Over half a million dollars in grants to programs focused on the health, safety, education and recreation of disadvantaged youth

A total of $275,000 to the NFL Youth Education Towns of Tampa Bay towards the construction of the Glazer Family Football Fields at Jackson Heights and Mort Park

An exclusive game day experience to more than 10,000 underprivileged children, including free Buccaneers tickets, food and car flags through its “Youth With Promise” initiative

More than $150,000 in vision screening equipment to six county school districts through the “Vision Program”

A total of 13,500 backpacks filled with school supplies and Buccaneers merchandise to underprivileged youth in the Bay area as part of “Buc-Packs for Back-To-School”

A total of $883,500 to the Tampa Bay Sports Commission for its support of amateur athletic activities

Over 1.8 million bookmarks to local public libraries for children who check out a book as part of “Make Reading Your Goal”

Hundreds of thousands of items through game day collection drives to benefit local food banks, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Teaching Tools for Hillsborough Schools and numerous charitable groups throughout the Bay area

These programs and many others were celebrated at One Buccaneer Place on Wednesday. As they have innumerable times through the last 10 years during ceremonies to award grants and at community events throughout West Central Florida, Foundation representatives made an effort to draw attention to the critical work being done by these charitable organizations. The Foundation was thrilled to have groups from so many of these organizations on hand Wednesday to share in the celebration.

The Foundation's guests arrived at One Buccaneer Place at 11:00 and were then taken into the team's handsomely-appointed dining room for lunch. At 12:30, the entire group ventured to the enormous team auditorium at the center of the building to begin the program. After a welcome from Glazer Kassewitz, the crowd heard from Iorio, Najjar and Maggie Gunther Osborn, the president of MGO Partners, Inc., who spoke about philanthropic leadership.

"This is a celebration of our 10th anniversary," Glazer Kassewitz told the crowd in her opening remarks, "but it is also a celebration of every person in this room. You wake up every morning dedicated to making a difference in the lives of other people."

Then, in the most moving portion of the ceremony, the assembled crowd heard from two young Bay area citizens whose lives had been touched by programs supported by the Glazer Family Foundation. After Lia Phagan of Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf signed a poem she had written (with Carol Downing interpreting in spoken word for the crowd), Tamyla shared her story.

Lia and Tamyla are just the sorts of neighbors in need that the Glazer Family Foundation has been committed to reaching since it was founded 10 years ago.

"Our vision was to help Tampa and the surrounding areas with a strong focus on children," explained Glazer Kassewitz. "I come from a very large family. I have five brothers, and growing up we were always told that kids can do anything. We just feel it's very important to help children."

A tour of One Buccaneer Place followed for all of the visitors. That was the end of the day's celebration, but for the Glazer Family Foundation, its work has only just begun.

To learn more about the Glazer Family Foundation’s programs, events and initiatives, please visit GlazerFamilyFoundation.org.